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Russian'spy' allowed to stay in UK
Source: Agencies |
November 30, 2011, Wednesday
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A SPECIAL immigration tribunal ruled yesterday that a Russian aide of a former lawmaker who was accused of being a spy can stay in Britain.
The tribunal concluded that Ekaterina Zatuliveter - who had an affair with her boss, a British lawmaker - was not a threat to national security despite government claims.
The commission's 28-page ruling left open the small possibility that Zatuliveter might be a Russian agent.
"We cannot exclude the possibility that we have been gulled," the report from judge John Mitting states. "But, if we have been, it has been by a supremely competent and rigorously trained operative."
The three-person panel in London concluded this was highly unlikely based on her education and training.
The 26-year-old Russian woman was arrested in December on suspicion of using her job in the office of legislator Mike Hancock to pass information to Russian intelligence. Zatuliveter admitted she had a four-year affair with her boss, a Liberal Democrat who served on the sensitive Defense Committee, but said she was not a secret agent.
She has not been charged with spying but British authorities wanted to deport her as a threat to national security. Much of the evidence was heard in secret, so the details of the case against her have not been made public.
A Home Office spokesman said officials are disappointed by the ruling.
The tribunal concluded that Ekaterina Zatuliveter - who had an affair with her boss, a British lawmaker - was not a threat to national security despite government claims.
The commission's 28-page ruling left open the small possibility that Zatuliveter might be a Russian agent.
"We cannot exclude the possibility that we have been gulled," the report from judge John Mitting states. "But, if we have been, it has been by a supremely competent and rigorously trained operative."
The three-person panel in London concluded this was highly unlikely based on her education and training.
The 26-year-old Russian woman was arrested in December on suspicion of using her job in the office of legislator Mike Hancock to pass information to Russian intelligence. Zatuliveter admitted she had a four-year affair with her boss, a Liberal Democrat who served on the sensitive Defense Committee, but said she was not a secret agent.
She has not been charged with spying but British authorities wanted to deport her as a threat to national security. Much of the evidence was heard in secret, so the details of the case against her have not been made public.
A Home Office spokesman said officials are disappointed by the ruling.
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